Merlin, Inc. 10-K

Item 1A. Risk Factors. As a smaller reporting company under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to include risk factors in this Report. However, the following is a partial list of material risks, uncertainties and other factors that could have a material effect on us and our operations: ● we are a blank check company and an early-stage company with no revenue or basis to evaluate our ability to select a suitable business target; ● we may not be able to select an appropriate target business or businesses and complete our initial Business Combination in the prescribed time frame; ● our expectations around the performance of a prospective target business or businesses may not be realized; ● we may not be successful in retaining or recruiting required officers, key employees or directors following our initial Business Combination; ● our officers and directors may have difficulties allocating their time between our Company and other businesses and may potentially have conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial Business Combination; ● we may not be able to obtain additional financing to complete our initial Business Combination or reduce the number of shareholders requesting redemption; 18 ● we may issue our shares to investors in connection with our initial Business Combination at a price that is less than the prevailing market price of our shares at that time; ● our shareholders may not be given the opportunity to choose the initial business target or to vote on the initial Business Combination; ● Trust Account funds may not be protected against third party claims or bankruptcy; ● an active market for our public securities may not develop and our shareholders will have limited liquidity and trading; ● our financial performance following a Business Combination with an entity may be negatively affected by their lack of an established record of revenue, cash flows and experienced management; ● there may be more competition to find an attractive target for an initial Business Combination, which could increase the costs associated with completing our initial Business Combination and may result in our inability to find a suitable target; ● changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial Business Combination; ● we may attempt to simultaneously complete Business Combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial Business Combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability; ● we may engage one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after the Initial Public Offering, which may include acting as a financial advisor in connection with an initial Business Combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financing transaction. Our underwriters are entitled to receive deferred underwriting commissions that will be released from the Trust Account only upon completion of an initial Business Combination. These financial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after the Initial Public Offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial Business Combination; ● we may attempt to complete our initial Business Combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a Business Combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all; ● since our Sponsor will lose its entire investment in us if our initial Business Combination is not completed (other than with respect to any Public Shares it may acquire during or after the Initial Public Offering), and because our Sponsor, officers and directors may profit substantially even under circumstances in which our Public Shareholders would experience losses in connection with their investment, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular Business Combination target is appropriate for our initial Business Combination; ● the value of the Founder Shares following completion of our initial Business Combination is likely to be substantially higher than the nominal price paid for them, even if the trading price of our Public Shares at such time is substantially less than $10.00 per Public Share; ● resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we have not completed our initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per Public Share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Rights will expire worthless; 19 ● we may not be able to complete an initial Business Combination with certain potential target companies if a proposed transaction with the target company may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States; ● recent increases in inflation and interest rates in the United States and elsewhere could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial Business Combination; ● market conditions, economic uncertainty or downturns could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and our ability to consummate a Business Combination; ● military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial Business Combination; and ● if our initial Business Combination involves a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible the excise tax will be imposed on us in connection with redemptions of our Ordinary Shares after or in connection with such initial Business Combination. For additional risks relating to our operations, other than as set forth above, see the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in our (i) IPO Registration Statement and (ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024 as filed with the SEC on December 9, 2024. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risks could arise that may also affect our business or ability to consummate an initial Business Combination. We may disclose changes to such risk factors or disclose additional risk factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.